** HD TiVo and HD DirecTV TiVo FAQ **

Well I've had my HR10-250 since October. I'm just hearing about this today. I guess that's what I get for not coming to this site often. Now, for the current HR10-250 owners. What are you guys planning on doing when we can't get HD channels anymore? From what I've read this new DirectTV dvr is getting a bad rap so far. I like DTV and don't plan on leaving them. But I hope their new box is comparable to the Tivos.

When will the time come where everyone has to switch to HDTV? (Or will that not ever happen?)

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There is no requirement to switch to HDTV. Over-the-air TV stations are required to go digital-only (in early 2009 as it stands now). There is no requirement for them to transmit HDTV over their digital channel if they don't want to.

None of this affects cable or satellite channels either. They can go HD whenever they want to, but there is no requirement.

Folks, there is NO MYSTERY. People are choosing to confuse themselves instead of read the facts. Don't waste your time calling DirecTV, TiVo, or anyone else. The people you talk to are insulated from the facts.

TiVo is developing an HD TiVo for Comcast.
DirecTV/NDS is developing an HD DVR for DirecTV.
and never the twain shall meet.

DirecTV is not getting any more MPEG-2 channels (HBO HD, Showtime HD, HDNet, HDNet Movies, ESPN, ABC HD, NBC HD, CBS HD) and will eventually turn those all off and provide them in MPEG-4 only.

Starting in December 2005, DirecTV started offering local channels in High Definition in MPEG-4 format to its subscribers in the 12 top cities. This requires a massive new dish and a new MPEG-4 receiver which cannot do any PVR functions. It's just a tuner.

The MPEG-4 DirecTV DVR comes out in Summer 2006. It will not be a TiVo.

Anyone buying an HR10-250, the DirecTV TiVo HD receiver (which cannot do MPEG-4) is gambling that DirecTV will offer a buyback/tradein to their new HD MPEG-4 DVR when it becomes available in Summer 2006. A few people who already have no trouble receiving local channels in HD with an ordinary antenna will be satisfied with the TiVo HR10-250 for the time being until DirecTV starts offering MPEG-4 exclusive channels.

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I think anyone who wants an HD DVR who doesn't purchase an HR10-250 is gambling that they are going to be happy with whatever DirecTV releases this summer.

Personally, my desire to have an MPEG4 box specifically for locals is outweighed by all of the other content which is already available in MPEG2 and will continue to be for the foreseeable future (ie until DirecTV chooses to shutdown the MPEG2 stream, rendering every non MPEG4 box on the network unusable).

I wouldn't count on any buyback/tradein scenario whatsoever when it comes to DVRs from DirecTV.

I wouldn't count on the MPEG2 stream going away any time soon.

I wouldn't worry about purchasing an HR10-250 unless HD locals were particularly important to you...

mine arrived yesterday and while it's only one day, i'm very, very happy with it.

i hooked it up to my toshiba rdxs-32 (sd hdd dvd recorder) so i can burn dvd's. the pq setting on the tivo has to be set at 480i but with the original source being so clear, the pq i end up with is just fine although not hd.

i also have an hd expressvu receiver so guess what toy i'm eyeing next.

the directv guide is slow but not as slow as i thought it would be after reading about it for a week or so here and elsewhere. i'm thinking it might get slower as time goes on but i don't bother with season passes because besides nfl football, i'm only interested in recording movies.

the "list guide" is actually kinda cool for me because i can aim at one particular hd channel, like hdnet movies, and choose a bunch of movies to record.

by the way, i spoke to my buddy at directv yesterday while he activated the tivo for me and he said they are well aware of the complaints and concerns from their customers regarding the separation from tivo. he said the company will do everything they can to keep these customers happy, for what it's worth.

edit: i've had hd locals since i "moved" to new york city back in the summer.

Folks, there is NO MYSTERY. People are choosing to confuse themselves instead of read the facts. Don't waste your time calling DirecTV, TiVo, or anyone else. The people you talk to are insulated from the facts.

TiVo is developing an HD TiVo for Comcast.
DirecTV/NDS is developing an HD DVR for DirecTV.
and never the twain shall meet.

DirecTV is not getting any more MPEG-2 channels (HBO HD, Showtime HD, HDNet, HDNet Movies, ESPN, ABC HD, NBC HD, CBS HD) and will eventually turn those all off and provide them in MPEG-4 only.

Starting in December 2005, DirecTV started offering local channels in High Definition in MPEG-4 format to its subscribers in the 12 top cities. This requires a massive new dish and a new MPEG-4 receiver which cannot do any PVR functions. It's just a tuner.

The MPEG-4 DirecTV DVR comes out in Summer 2006. It will not be a TiVo.

Anyone buying an HR10-250, the DirecTV TiVo HD receiver (which cannot do MPEG-4) is gambling that DirecTV will offer a buyback/tradein to their new HD MPEG-4 DVR when it becomes available in Summer 2006. A few people who already have no trouble receiving local channels in HD with an ordinary antenna will be satisfied with the TiVo HR10-250 for the time being until DirecTV starts offering MPEG-4 exclusive channels.

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I stopped by the DirecTV booth at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show on Friday, saw the replacement unit for the HR10-250 and was told by one of the many white-clad DirecTV reps that DirecTV would indeed be swapping out the old HR10-250s for the new unit.

emains, i would educate myself a little more before making such a blunt and unnecessary comment. any TIVO is compatible with an HDTV, i have been watching my SD tivo for two years now on my HDTV. i will upgrade soon to an HD tivo which will deliver me even better pictures on certain programing. and unlike some HD cable boxes the HDMI output actually works....

welcome to the forum, read up a little and you will see what's going on.

i have not watched LIVE tv for two years now. and i am loving every moment of it on my HDTV !

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I want to make sure I understand. I just bought a 40"LCD HDTV, I have a regular SD Tivo and the picture is terrible. I didn't expect to receive HD TV with a SD Tivo, but I didn't think the picture would be horrible either. How did you get that to work?

I want to make sure I understand. I just bought a 40"LCD HDTV, I have a regular SD Tivo and the picture is terrible. I didn't expect to receive HD TV with a SD Tivo, but I didn't think the picture would be horrible either. How did you get that to work?